Runway to Recovery The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus Guidance Jointly Issued by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services Version 1.1 | December 2020 CONTENTS – 03 Overview 07 Principles 09 Air Transportation Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities 11 A Risk-Based Approach for COVID-19 Outbreak Mitigation Planning 14 Public Health Risk Mitigation in the Passenger Air Transportation System 49 Future Areas of Research and Evaluation for Public Health Risk Mitigations 51 Implementation Challenges Specific to International Travel 53 Appendix A: Key Partners and Decision-Makers OVERVIEW A safe, secure, efficient, and resilient air transportation system is essential to our Nation’s physical, economic, and social health. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has demonstrated that protecting public health in the air transportation system is just as critical as aviation safety and security to the confidence of the flying public. Government, aviation, and public health leaders have been working together—and must continue to do so—to meaningfully reduce the public health risk and restore passenger, aviation workforce (including aircrew), and public confidence in air travel. The U.S. Government continues to assess the evolving situation and the effectiveness of actions and recommendations implemented to date. This updated guidance reflects this continual assessment and updated information. Although there are some updates and adjustments throughout, the key additions and changes in this document include new information on: » Passenger and Aviation Workforce Education » Contact Tracing » Mask Use, specifically the need to accommodate those who cannot wear masks » Passenger Testing This document provides the U.S. Government’s updated guidance to airports and airlines for implementing measures to mitigate the public health risks associated with COVID-19, support an increase in travel volume, and ensure that traditional aviation safety and security measures are not compromised. This guidance addresses public health concerns and supports U.S. air carriers and airports as they make decisions and implement changes to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The aviation industry has maintained a safe and secure system because stakeholders do not compete on safety and security; we expect the aviation industry to take the same system-level approach to implement guidance on public health risk mitigations. Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus 3 OVERVIEW A National Strategy for Recovery of the U.S. Air Transportation System While it is critically important for all users of the air transportation system to be educated about the public health risk and mitigation measures and to take responsibility for preventing the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Government has developed this guidance document specifically to support airports and airlines in public health risk reduction. This document identifies measures that airports and airlines should implement across all operations and all phases of travel to, from, and within the United States, and explains how those measures should be adapted to the unique air travel environment. Successfully implement Frequently communicate Gradually resume operations as effective public health passenger and operator risks, the system demonstrates the measures in the air responsibilities, and expectations. capability to mitigate the spread of transportation system. COVID-19, treating public health with the same importance as aviation safety and security. Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus 4 OVERVIEW The U.S. Government recognizes the substantial public health risk mitigation measures that many air carriers and airports have already implemented and the investments they continue to make in new ways to address public health risk. In order to promote consistency throughout the air travel system and enhance confidence, the measures outlined in this document should be implemented as soon as feasible, insomuch as similar measures are not already in place. The U.S. Government welcomes industry innovation and feedback on best practices, flexible methods for implementation, and metrics that achieve the public health risk reduction outcomes identified in this guidance. Many of the updates in this guidance reflect that ongoing, valuable feedback and sharing of best practices. Summary of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 and Promote Healthy Travel* *Key points of guidance for airports and airlines to immediately implement or continue implementing across all operations and phases of travel. 1. Educate and communicate with passengers 9. Minimize in-person interaction touch and employees. points and shared objects, documents, 2. Require the use of masks.† and surfaces. 3. Accommodate social distancing to the extent 10. Report daily status of public health risk possible. mitigation efforts to stakeholders. 4. Continue to support enhanced cleaning and 11. Enhance airport security checkpoint disinfection procedures. operations. 5. Conduct health assessments for passengers 12. Utilize technology programs to limit in- and employees, to include encouraging person contact and facilitate passenger pre-departure and post-arrival testing for processing. passengers. 13. Accommodate the needs of persons 6. Collect passenger and crew contact with disabilities pursuant to the information for public health response Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with purposes (contact tracing). Disabilities Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act. 7. Protect employees. 8. Separate passengers from flight crew as much as practicable. †The term “mask” is used in this document to refer to face coverings and masks that adequately cover the nose and mouth (when properly worn) and include either cloth facial coverings or non-medical disposable masks. See CDC guidance regarding appropriate mask materials and wear at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/ about-face-coverings.html and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html#anchor_1604966572663. This use of the term “mask” throughout this document is not intended to affect OSHA’s regulatory definitions, oversight, or enforcement authority. Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus 5 OVERVIEW The U.S. Government has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the measures from guidance implemented to date and has updated some of the recommendations to reflect changes in risk and increased understanding of the virus. The need to revise recommended measures quickly through guidance reflects the progressive nature of the U.S. Government's understanding of COVID-19, as well as the ongoing evaluation of effectiveness and availability of any given measure at combatting the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Continual monitoring of advancements in the scientific understanding of evolving conditions and the effectiveness of risk mitigation measures inform this revision. The U.S. Government will continue to evaluate evolving risk reduction opportunities and may provide additional guidance and revisions as lessons are learned and risk conditions change, particularly as we evaluate the impact of vaccine use on public health risk in the aviation system. Controls and risk mitigation measures employed in the air transportation system should continue to be consistent with, and supportive of, the broader set of community public health interventions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1. 1 This guidance document has been designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a “significant guidance document,” as defined by section 2(c) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13891, “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents.” Section 4(a)(iii) of that E.O. requires that a Federal agency issue a significant guidance document for public notice and comment, unless the agency and OMB agree that exigency, safety, health, or other compelling cause warrants an exemption. Section 4(a)(iii)(A) of the Executive Order, as well as agency implementing procedures (see, e.g., 5 CFR 5.41(b)), further provide that public notice and comment may be waived if good cause exists to do so. We find that such exigencies and good cause exist for this guidance document due to the health risks presented by COVID-19 and need to promote critical health mitigation measures quickly and consistently to support containment of the virus and restore the U.S. aviation transportation system. This document adopts relevant Federal guidelines and reflects those already supported in the aviation sector. For these reasons, the agencies, in consultation with OMB, have found that good cause exists to waive public notice and comment because such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus 6 PRINCIPLES The following principles provide the foundation of the U.S. framework for implementing public health measures in the aviation sector to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during travel in the